Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 4: Goa, known for its lush greenery and rich ecological heritage, is likely to soon get its second biodiversity heritage site — a 500 sq.m. sacred grove located on private land in Rivona, South Goa. The initiative has been proposed by the family of Ashish Prabhudesai, who has been preserving this grove for generations through traditional rituals and community protection.

The grove, flourishing with natural vegetation and the locally known ‘Hatto’ (Pandanus odorifer) flower, has long been revered by locals for its spiritual and ecological significance. Following the family’s formal request, a 12-member committee comprising members from the Rivona panchayat and the village biodiversity management committee has been formed to evaluate the proposal.

Goa State Biodiversity Board Member Secretary Pradip Sarmokadam confirmed that the committee’s report will serve as the basis for preparing a draft notification. “This is a rare case where a private family has come forward to seek official biodiversity heritage site status for their land. Even after the tag is granted, the family’s rights to perform rituals will remain intact,” he said.

If approved, the Rivona sacred grove will follow Purvatali Rai in Surla, Bicholim — Goa’s first declared biodiversity heritage site in 2019. Meanwhile, five other sites are under consideration: Sateri Tali in Penha de Franca, the Curtorim wetlands, Chicalim Bay (home to window-pane oysters), the Rivona plateau noted for its floral biodiversity, and the Sernabatim sand dunes.

However, several of these locations are facing procedural delays. While the Curtorim site’s draft notification is pending panchayat approval, Chicalim Bay’s consultation process continues due to land title disputes.

Officials say the process of declaring a biodiversity heritage site is lengthy and consultative, requiring the full consent of local bodies before notification. The Rivona sacred grove, however, stands out for its community-driven protection and could soon become a model example of private participation in conservation.